Page 12 of Untamed Sinner

Unfortunately for Richard Pemberton. Not that I felt bad for the piece of shit—I found links between him and Turner’s network. "Did she say why she was there?"

Lily shakes her head. "She didn't say what she was doing. And she didn't say when she'd be back to visit."

"Anything else?"

Lily hesitates. "She asked about Mason. About the ranch. About whether I felt safe here."

"And?"

"I told her I did." She looks at me, and there's something fierce in her eyes now. Something protective. "If you're going after my sister, Hendricks, you need to know something."

"What's that?"

"She won't come quietly, and she won't trust you."

"I know." I feel an odd flare of annoyance at that, but I push it aside.

"Do you?" Lily steps closer, and Mason moves with her, a wall of muscle and menace. "Because Mandy's not like the people you usually deal with. She's not a target. She's not a problem to solve. She's a person who's been hurt more than anyone should be, and if you treat her like anything less than that, she'll put a bullet in you."

I nod. "Noted."

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

Mason speaks for the first time since his greeting when I arrived. "Don't hurt her." His voice is low, dangerous. "You do, and it won't matter who hired you or any agreements we have between us. We'll come for you."

I meet his eyes. "Understood."

We stare at each other. Then Lily exhales, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. "If you find her, when you find her, tell her to call me. Tell her I'm worried."

"I will."

Lily doesn't look like she believes me, but she doesn't push. She turns back to the mare, dismissing me.

I head back toward my truck. Jake's on the porch again, watching. Mason's followed me from the corral, leaning against the fence with his arms crossed, as if making sure I’m leaving. I know that if Luke wasn’t busy with Harper, his new fiancée, he’d be out here telling me to watch my step with Mandy.

I’ll need to manage this situation. A few weeks ago, I’d have said it was to preserve valuable assets, but I realize it’s more than that. There aren’t that many people who understand where I’ve been, what I’ve seen, and what I’ve done. Somewhere along the way, these men have stopped being useful contacts and become people I wasn’t prepared to alienate.

I get in the truck, start the engine, and pull out of Blackthorn Ranch with the weight of Lily's words sitting heavy in my chest.

Don't hurt her.

I’m not going to.

I also know I’m not going to turn her over to Thomas Ashford.

10

MANDY

Breaking into Hendricks’s house seemed like a good idea an hour ago.

But sitting in his kitchen, waiting for him to come home, surrounded by the smell of coffee, soap, and something annoyingly Hendricks? That’s where the plan starts to unravel.

11

HENDRICKS